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Migration Collection

Image: Vinyl suitcase (1970s)

Source: Museum Victoria

The Migration Collection provides an overview of the many and diverse people who have migrated to Victoria since the 1830s, their motivations for coming, the material they brought with them, items accumulated on the journey, and the objects they made and acquired after settling here.

This material is varied and includes personal effects, domestic and work-related items, clothing and other textiles, luggage, shipboard souvenirs, photographs, art and craft works, and personal and immigration documents. The growing collection of documents relating to Australian immigration policy and promotion, and the processes by which people are selected, managed and organised, provides a critical bridge between the personal narratives and the narratives of nations - Australia's and others. Local community activity relating to migration is also represented, including cultural organisations formed to maintain cultural traditions; government and community support and administrative groups, such as the Good Neighbour Council; and protest and political movements, for and against immigration, multiculturalism and diversity.

Scope of existing collectionThe collection consists of around 6,000 items relating to individuals, families, communities and organisations. Acquisition is primarily by donation. Objects include personal items, artworks, work-related items, luggage, costumes, textiles, domestic equipment, documents and ephemera. Almost 60 per cent of the collection consists of 12 sub-collections of 50 items or more.

There are also many objects in other History and Technology collections, notably the Numismatics and Transport collections, which have direct relevance to the Migration Collection. The collection also includes a modest oral history collection relating to individual and family migration stories, as well as discreet oral history projects such as the Immigration and Artistic Practice Collection, the South Melbourne Tramworkers project, Melbourne Migrant Women Textile Workers, and Australian and Migrant-born Female Glory Box Experiences.

Weaving loom, brought to Australia by Latvian displaced couple Anna and Ervins Apinis in 1950. Made from discarded timbers found in the German camp and used there and here to record and maintain traditional Latvian weaving. Also an unplying machine, weavings, the crate the loom was packed in and Anna's original notebooks kept in the displaced persons camp documenting Latvian weavings designs

William Nicol shadow puppet collection, 54 aluminium shadow puppets and scenery pieces used by Scottish migrant William Nicol as he toured Aboriginal missions collecting children's art and traditional stories. Includes an Aboriginal story set

Culturally specific costumes, representing 19 cultural groups from the 19th century to the present day (including 14 complete costumes)